Blue Wiggle Anthony Field opens up about lifelong struggle with depression

We know him as the always-smiling, skivvy-wearing Blue Wiggle, but Anthony Field has struggled with depression and dark thoughts since he was a teenager.

In a moving appearance on ABC's Anh's Brush With Fame, the 53-year-old revealed to artist Ahn Do that it was during his time at St Joseph's College boarding school in Sydney that his mental health began to deteriorate.

"For me, it wasn't a great experience, I must admit," the father-of-three said. "There were really good people there and good teachers, but it just didn't work for me."

"I mean, boarding school - things happen there which I won't go into, but they were too much for a young teenager to cope with by yourself," he said. "You're away from your parents and as years rolled on I just started feeling bad about myself."

It's not the first time Anthony has spoken out about his mental health. In 2012, he released an autobiography that detailed his personal psychological and physical struggles, including how he suffered silently from depression for eight years before seeking help in 2003.

Image: Getty

"You feel like you shouldn't be on the earth, basically," Anthony told Ahn, detailing some of his darkest moments.

"The scariest part is when you're in that zone and you're actually thinking about doing the worst thing possible you can do to yourself, you actually think that's a release, and that it will be better," he said.

Despite finding global fame with The Wiggles, Anthony revealed his depression has been an ever-present part of his life.

"[It's like] you're a waste of time," he continued. "You're in a crowd with people and you feel like you're the only person who feels like that [it's as if] they don't understand me - no one gets to me."

As Ahn continued to paint his portrait, Anthony revealed he went on medication when he reached his lowest point, saying it "got me out of the loop of thinking that."

Meanwhile, he also found support in his Wiggle bandmates, in particular Red Wiggle Murray Cook.

"Murray sort of understood what was going on probably better than most," Anthony said.

If you or someone you know is seeking support and information about suicide prevention, contact: